When you elect a local lawmaker and send her
to the state capitol, she works for you and your neighbors, right? Check again.
A report by a Washington research group says that most states, including Minnesota,
have inadequate laws to prevent financial conflicts among local lawmakers. The
Center for Public Integrity (CPI), a nonpartisan government watchdog , conducted
what may be the first comprehensive study of ethics and disclosure laws in the
50 states. It gave a "failing" grade to half the states, and a "barely passing"
grade to 11 others. Only 14 states merited approval from CPI.